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A threshold is a magical barrier around a home; it acts like an invisible and intangible field of energy surrounding it and keeps out unwanted magical forces. Crossing a threshold may be impossible or come with great effort or at a cost for some beings unless invited in.

Every home is surrounded by a threshold, although there are great variations in strength, and not every living space qualifies as a home. The existence and strength of a threshold depends on the way it is inhabited. Places that feel like a home to its inhabitants, that are connected to emotions and have a history, are stronger than those that are simply a place to live, which are "just a house". Family homes are generally stronger than single households. Old and longtime dwellings, ancestral homes, places with a history of their own are usually very strong, whereas short-term or rented living spaces are weaker.[1][2]

Places that are not homes, like public buildings, hotel rooms, offices, and so forth, as a rule do not have a threshold.

The magic qualities of a home and its threshold exist only around homes of mortals. Dwellings of other beings do not induce the existence of a threshold.[3]

Crossing a threshold is a meaningful action, in which both the magic barrier and the crossing person influence the situation.

If invited into the home by its owner or an inhabitant, the invited person or being can pass into the home completely unaffected.[4] Trying to cross a threshold uninvited has repercussions, or may not be possible at all. Crossing a threshold uninvited leaves much of the crossing being's magic behind, such as a Wizard.[3]

Dresden has described the feeling of a threshold as a kind of tension,[3] when crossing uninvited as something tugging at him and having to "push" through[1], feeling a resistance, and experiencing a tingling sensation[5].

Humans, are the main group of beings who actually get a threshold. As a non-magical creature, humans can cross thresholds without invitation or harm. Normal humans possessing no magic as a rule can and do pass thresholds without noticing or being affected; although they themselves can and do influence it, as lots of strangers entering a home can weaken the threshold (at least temporarily, and possibly only when uninvited).[3]

Wizards are able to cross a threshold uninvited, although forcing themselves through the barrier leaves much of their magic and power behind, severely weakening their magic while inside the home. If wizards are invited in, they can pass without loss of or other influence on their magic.[3][4]

White Court: can cross a threshold but it cripples their ability to draw on their Hunger for strength and speed.[6]

Faeries: Beings from Faerie don't necessarily need to be invited over a threshold if they are benevolent to the inhabitants of the house. While there, they are bound by the Laws of hospitality—the obligations of guest and host.[7]

Supernatural and magic creatures, including demons, are much more affected and inconvenienced by a threshold, due to being comprised of and bound to a greater extent by magic and its rules. Forcing themselves through a threshold would not only result in the loss of their 'outer' magical powers while in the home, but often actively endanger their life.[3] Thus many magical creatures are often incapable of crossing a threshold, due to being kept out completely by the barrier, or due to unwillingness to endanger themselves to this extent.

Even if a creature tries to or can force itself through a (possibly weaker) threshold, it usually still takes a lot of effort. All this results in many, if not most magical creatures being unable to cross a threshold unless invited in. Among them are for example demons,[8] or vampires.

In Dead Beat, Harry Dresden explains to Waldo Butters what a threshold is and how Karrin Murphy's home has a strong one. A home has to have a history, family, emotions worked into the wood. The Murphy family had that home for better than a hundred years and lived in it for every one of them. The threshold is solid and would keep out the Erlking.[2]

In White Night, Harry Dresden crosses Anna Ash's threshold twice without an invitation. The first time is when he goes to a meeting of the Ordo Lebes to talk to the women. Anna greets him with suspicion and forces him to enter without an official invitation purposely to strip his magic.[4] The second time is when Harry and Mouse return for more questions. Harry senses a sleeping spell in the building and hears a suspicious sound, thinking Anna in trouble, Harry breaks Anna's ward and once again he enters without invitation and his magic is stripped.[11]